AMD's 2012 - 2013 Client CPU/GPU/APU Roadmap Revealed
by Anand Lal Shimpi on February 2, 2012 1:51 PM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
- AMD
- Trade Shows
- AMD FAD 2012
AMD gave us a quick update on its 2012 - 2013 client roadmap, mostly focusing on new CPU/APU releases although there's a brief mention of Sea Islands - the follow-on to Southern Islands due out in 2013. AMD wasn't specific with what Sea Islands would bring us other than some more HSA (Heterogenous Systems Architecture, formerly Fusion System Architecture, aka heterogenous compute) enhancements.
The bigger updates are on the CPU/APU side. This year we'll get Trinity but we'll also get an updated Brazos platform and a new ultra low power (~4.5W) Hondo platform. The latter is likely going to be targeted at Windows 8 tablets and both will be based on 40nm Bobcat cores.
Going into 2013 AMD will move all mainstream client APUs to 28nm and bring a GCN (Graphics Core Next) based GPU to all of the APUs. Kaveri, the Llano/Trinity follow-on, will use Steamroller cores (evolution of Bulldozer/Piledriver) while Kabini and Temash will use Jaguar. Jaguar is an evolution of the Bobcat core although we don't have any architectural details at this time. Kabini and Temash will also integrate the Fusion Controller Hub (FCH, aka South Bridge) making these two APUs AMD's first true single-chip solutions.
AMD's FX platform will get an update to Piledriver cores this year with Vishera. There's no visibility beyond Vishera unfortunately, although it's probably a safe bet that we'll see a Steamroller based derivative at some point.
AMD's 2013 roadmap is heavily built around HSA. The hope is that with Graphics Core Next on-die, and proper software support, AMD will be able to deliver a compelling heterogenous computing platform that lets you leverage the strengths of both x86 CPU cores and a GPU built for compute. AMD has been chasing the promise of heterogenous compute for a while now, but its roadmap is clearly built around that vision becoming a reality.
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ajp_anton - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
I look forward to this. The name means "friend" in finnish =).spctm - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
It is the name of a river in south India, worshiped by many as life-giver, arguably so. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaverispctm - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
As a matter of fact Kabini is also a river in Kerala state (south India). While Kaveri flows between two other south Indian states. Not sure of the other names.rocketbuddha - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
Originates in Karnataka but main course is in TamilnaduEvery year the water from this river is used as a scapegoat/political issue in Karnataka to ask TN to give electricity in xchange for water. Inspite of the Supreme Court ruling in TNs favor the charade will continue on...
The DECCAN platform itself has names of rivers flowing in the DECCAN plateau of Southern India
j-g-faustus - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
Temash is a river in Belize (Central America):http://www.southernbelize.com/temash.html
Looks like they went with a river theme for the naming.
TeXWiller - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
I am a little bit surprised, but in a good, efficiency of production kind of way. The frequency goals can't be that high though, which explains why the desktop cores of the performance segment are still Piledrivers in 2013. Ah, I just saw the previous Anand's post about the more synthesizable designs. TSMC's process must have a great potential.arjuna1 - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
Anand those graphs show only Vishera for the desktop 2012-2013, can you confirm or clarify this?R3MF - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
i am disappointed in their desktop roadmap.ditching sepang/terramar means no on-die PCIe 3.0 controller, and relying on an aging chipset stuck with off-die PCIe 2.0. also means no triple-channel memory in the enthusiast space either.
and not only for 2012, but for much of 2013 as well!
AnnoD - Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - link
Yep... And AMD made that decision very consciously, apparently. No more "wild goose chases" for the ultimate high end, I guess that did them no good (probably even harm) too many times.chizow - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
I guess this dashes any hopes of a "quick response" to Kepler with the already rumored HD 8900 series. Looks to be 2013 at the earliest, so if AMD releases a new high-end SKU it'll just be an OC'd or refreshed Tahiti or an X2 part.